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Congress tries to give Obama line-item veto

Constitutionally questionable power over purse

Published: 02/08/2012 at 12:00 PM

(ASSOCIATED PRESS) WASHINGTON — The Republican-led House is trying Wednesday to give President Barack Obama the line-item veto, a constitutionally questionable power over the purse that has been sought by both Republican and Democratic presidents.

The legislation, expected to pass, allows the president to pick out specific items in spending bills for elimination. Currently, the president must sign or veto spending bills in their entirety.

The president’s choices for removal would then have to be approved by Congress.